• Congratulations to Bernie Hyrtzak, People's Choice in the January 2026 Turning Challenge (click here for details)
  • Congratulations to David Croxton for "Geri's Basket Illusion" being selected as Turning of the Week for February 2, 2026 (click here for details)
  • AAW Symposium demonstrators announced - If the 2026 AAW International Woodturning Symposium is not on your calendar, now is the time to register. And there are discounts available if you sign up early, by Feb. 28. Early Bird pricing gives you the best rate for our 40th Anniversary Symposium in Raleigh, North Carolina, June 4–7, 2026. (There are discounts for AAW chapter members too) For more information vist the discussion thread here or the AAW registration page
  • Welcome new registering member. Your username must be your real First and Last name (for example: John Doe). "Screen names" and "handles" are not allowed and your registration will be deleted if you don't use your real name. Also, do not use all caps nor all lower case.

Air powered carving tools

Hi Mike!

I use an air body saw purchased from Harbor Freight - Trent Bosch recommended this for doing some major saw-sculpting; it's one of the tools he uses in his 'vessels of illusion' series.

I also own the 400,000 rpm Powercrafter unit that takes 1/16" friction fit burrs - it works great, but these high speed "drills" don't have a lot of torque -so don't expect to hog-off lots of stock with these - they are finesse tools, good for piercing and thin-wall sculpting. Binh Pho uses one of these high speed air tools (although he uses an NSK) as his main carving and piercing tool once he has turned and dried his thin-walled vessels. I also know that J. Paul Fennell and Andi Wolfe use these kinds of tools in a lot of their piercing and carving.

For the bulk of my power-carving, I prefer to use a Foredom Tool - the 'standard' SR version of the hung-motor flex-shaft tool - it's not an air tool, but extremely versatile. I have about 5 or 6 Foredom handpieces of different styles. I'd recommend this tool as a starting point. Much better for carving and related tasks than the generic Dremel tool.

Several people also use air-driven dental drills - Malcolm Zander uses one of these with great success. You should look-up his web site to see what can be done with a dental drill, some great ideas, and lots of skill. I am very impressed with his turned and pierced pieces - especially his lace series.

Good luck with your tool selection!

Rob Wallace
 
Mike
I have the NSK that I use for piercing and detail carving. I bought it from Binh Pho.I love it. My carving units are electric Foredom type units. I also have an air die grinder that I bought from Harbor Freight that is great for roughing.
Don
 
I don't have one of the High speed units yet but will probably buy it from Binh Pho. I believe he has tested them all and picked the most durable unit to sell. I do most of my carving with electric tools because my current compressor isn't up to the task. I do have a pneumatic die grinder that I use on occasion.
I use mostly the Dremel with and without the flex shaft. This is for finer work and detailing. I use the foredom for rough cuts because it has the horsepower to handle it. For even faster work, and it's surprising how fine a detail you can do with these) I use a 3" angle grinder with everything from the chainsaw cutter to sandpaper discs.
 
I'll be looking to buy a power carver in a little while. Foredom makes a number of different models with different hp ratings. Which ones do you guys have, hp wise?

Also, any comments on the Wecheer knock-offs? They are considerably less expensive.

Thanks,
Burt
 
Thanks for all of the great info. Currently I have a flex shaft Dremel and a reciprocating Ryobi (no longer made) and use both. I'm looking at the air powered high speed for finer finesse work. I've located a few used Midwest brand dental tools but I'm concerned about buying used tools, site unseen (they're not nearby). I'll check Binh and Malcolm's websites.
I also use the 4" angle grinder with the lancelot as well as discs for surface treatments.
Thanks again
Mike
 
Not an air driven machine - but you might want to check out a "micro motor". Foredom and NSK and others make them. It is like a fancy Dremel tool - but easier to use. I purchased a Foredom machine and I really love it. It runs at 0 - 50,000 RPMs. I took a class at Arrowmont last year with Mike Lee as the instructor. He used a micro motor and we got to try his. Fell in love with it and lately I think I have been carving more than I have been turning. Actually I turn something - takes a couple of hours - and then carve for a week or two.
Hugh
 
Mike,

I'm on my third Ryobi recipricating carver since we took class a JCC. Those Stirt flutes I have been doing are a little hard on the 'detail carver'. I have been picking up Ryobi's online and garage sales but I think its time to move up to something that doesn't get so hot that I get first degree burns while carving. I am way off the subject, just wanted to say Hi and share.

Frank
 
Weecher Knock-Offs

Burt, I have one of those Weecher knock-off's, a power carver that does both reciprocating carving and rotary carving. Having never used anything other than that, and a dremel tool, I can say that the Weecher is better than the dremel tool (both power cord and cordless/battery operated).

I have plans to upgrade to a better power carver in the future, but for me, for now, it works just fine.
 
I have also been looking at units other than air powered. I've been giving thought to the Mastercraft hanging Pro Flex-shaft set which is a combo rotary/reciprocating:
http://www.woodcarverssupply.com/store/prodinfo.asp?number=797268&variation=&aitem=7&mitem=19

Rob mentioned that air powered at 400,000+ rpm are a much cleaner, finesse cutting tool but of course there's no recipro with them.

I'm thinking that I could do rough work with the Dremel and Ryobi.

I could also risk having to sleep in the shop by buying both the Mastercraft and an air unit.

Hi Frank, I'm on my second Ryobi since JCC, they're getting harder to find and I've noticed the price has gone up on auction sites...the word must have gotten out LOL. They're also heavier and a bit unwieldy compared to a handpiece unit. I sent an email to Al regarding this, waiting to hear back. I saw my roommate BJ as well as a few others in Richmond. Can't make NM but I'll be in Ct next year and Mn the following.

Mike
 
There is a knock off hand piece reciprocating attachment for the Foredom, I think from WeCheer, but not sure. Works well, small bites than the larger you would get from the Ryobi or similar. Their electric version (reciprocarver) seemed to run real hot to me.

I have the Foredom with the reciprocal carver and the air powered Powercrafter. Two different beasts with distinct uses, as the Powercrafter is great for detail carving and piercing and the other for better mass removal and medium level carving (IMHO). Once you get the burrs you want for the Foredom it would do the same, just more dust vs shavings.

Big air carvers and die grinders take a lot of CFMs and my little 25 gallon Craftsman can barely keep up.
 
Mike have you tried the Foredom reciprocating handpiece. I've been looking at them because they are much smaller and lighter than the Ryobi. Plus you have a rotary grinder for those purposes as well. Of course it's not a high speed grinder but I find they serve 2 different purposes.
 
John and Steve, I just looked at Wecheer (new one on me) at Traditional Woodworker, the price is certainly good. What's their quality level?

Initially I had sort of settled on the Mastercarver but began giving thought to an air powered unit. For what I do I'm probably fine with something like the Wecheer - Foredom, etc Rotary/recipro tool

As I often do I'm headed for information overload. Anyway, thoughts on Wecheer please.

Thanks
Mike
 
I like the Wecheer recipro, I haven't used the Foredom version. At the time, Woodcraft carried the Wecheer and not Foredom. If they were similarly priced, I would get the Foredom, just because I like the quality of their tools.

I used the electric version by Wecheer for awhile, but gave it back since the exhaust seemed to hit right on my hand and made it too hot to hold for long.
 
I have been using a weecher with rotary and reciprocating handpieces for a couple years now. It's done everything I've asked of it, with no problems at all. I even bought a rotozip bit and used the Weecher to cut tile in my bathroom.

I suppose the higher price for the Foredom could be justified by some users, but I don't know how. I don't see how I could justify paying more for a Foredom, but that's just me.

Ed
 
I have a Weecher reciprocating hand piece. It works great my only complaint is I don't think the steel in the cutters is as good as the Flexcut but these are easily replaced.
Don
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top